5 Reasons to Become a Practice Manager

Practice managers are the people who work behind the scenes in a healthcare practice to ensure excellent patient care is achieved. 

These professionals are sometimes referred to as directors, business managers or CEOs. They are strategic planners, implementers of the correct policies and procedures, and the overall glue that keeps a healthcare practice up and running. 

Becoming a practice manager will place you in a central role within Australia’s healthcare system, where you’ll be capable of making a real difference.

Discover some more roles in healthcare that will see you making a big difference to peoples’ health and lives.

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Practice managers are in charge of ensuring all the nitty-gritty administrative and business tasks are done properly so the medical professionals can focus on doing their job to the best of their ability.

For this reason, a practice manager has to wear multiple hats throughout their day to make sure all facets of the business run smoothly and to a high standard.

Practice manager responsibilities fall into the areas of:

Australia’s healthcare and social assistance industry is rapidly growing in response to numerous factors. This includes a growing and ageing population, not to mention the ever-developing situation around COVID-19. Industry employment is projected to climb 12% by 2024.

The demand for more practice managers will also continue to increase in the upcoming years, with job opportunities steadily growing 7% by 2024. Although practice managers are needed across all of Australia, the majority of work opportunities are currently located in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

Practice management is a challenging but extremely fulfilling role that has plenty of full-time work opportunities. Currently, 61% of practice managers across Australia work full-time. The average salary of a full-time practice manager varies according to level of experience.

Approximately 39% of practice managers work on a part-time basis. Those who can’t or choose not to work full-time can expect an average hourly rate of $38-$42.

Practice managers are often the unsung heroes of our healthcare system. When we think of healthcare practices, many of us instantly picture our doctors and our nurses. What we often don’t realise is the amount of behind the scenes work that our practice managers do, to make sure our medical professionals can excel at their jobs. 

As a practice manager, you have the ability to foster a welcoming, supportive and highly professional space for your clients to come and seek help. Good healthcare practices largely shape our healthcare industry as a whole. So, it’s safe to say, your work as a practice manager can really make a difference. 

A day in the life of a practice manager is rarely the same. This role can require you to quickly swap between departments to ensure smooth business operations. You’ll be involved with most facets of the business, from difficult conversations with patients to staff payroll, so a diverse skill set is critical.

These are the skills you’ll need to hone for each area of your role:

Technically speaking, a specific qualification is not required to become a practice manager. But with the level of responsibility you will have — for not only the business, but your staff — proper training and education is a must. 

Current practice managers in Australia have an array of qualifications, from a Certificate III all the way through to a post graduate degree. What’s essential, no matter what level of qualification you choose to commit to, is that you develop a strong foundation of business administration and management skills. 

For many, a Certificate III in Business Administration (Medical) or Health Administration is the best way to develop these foundational skills and transition into the healthcare industry.

Completing this qualification will prepare you for entry-level administration work in a broad range of healthcare workplaces such as:

• Hospitals
• Private clinics
• Public medical centres

Over 12 months of full-time study, core foundation skills such as patient record management, medical accounts management, and workplace infection control will be well developed. 

Many of these courses are also offered online, providing self-paced flexible learning opportunities for those who can’t meet a structured timetable of classes.

Browse Certificate III courses

Those who wish to progress to a senior role more quickly can choose to continue on to complete a Certificate IV or Diploma in Health Administration. These qualifications dive deeper into the specific skills required of a manager within healthcare, focusing on client care and risk management.   

Becoming a practice manager is a challenging yet rewarding job that will allow you to harness your strengths in operations and business management within the healthcare sector. 

With the right training, you can start your journey towards becoming a practice manager today, making a real impact in people’s lives while providing yourself a financially secure future. If you’re ready to take the next step, it’s time to consider your training opportunities.